Stormwater amendment forwarded to council

A Beaufort County panel Monday recommended an expansion of stormwater regulations to include approved but unimproved “lots of record.”

The amendment was unanimously endorsed by the County Council Natural Resources Committee.

The County Council must pass three readings of the amendment and is scheduled to vote on the first when it meets at 4 p.m. Monday.

The county’s Zoning and Development Standards Ordinance already controls the total volume of stormwater runoff allowed into local waterways from new developments.

“But there are about 22,000 lots that are platted and could be built upon but haven’t been yet,” said committee Chairman Paul Sommerville.

“The future impact of this much development without volume control could have a significant impact on water quality,” said county Stormwater Manager Dan Ahern.

Total volume control of “lots of record but not built” is the second phase of the county’s overall stormwater management plan, Ahern said.

The third step is regulation of existing, built locations — which will be addressed in a future amendment, he said. “You can either go back and retrofit the development or implement lot standards for individual homeowners.”

The ordinance is based on scientific studies that show that the total volume of stormwater runoff is a factor in water pollution even if the runoff isn’t polluted.

The scientific findings indicate that too much fresh water dilutes a saltwater creek or river to the point that the salinity no longer kills fecal coliform bacteria.

“We’ve got to get the baseline right before we start attacking the retrofit,” said council Chairman Weston Newton.

Allen Patterson, president of the Homeowners Association of the Lowcountry, said the regulation of unbuilt lots of record should focus on big developments rather than individual property owners.

“The road runoff from developments is causing it (excessive volume), more than individual houses. There ought to be an emphasis on developments and especially on roads,” Patterson said.

“It’s not an exact science, but we’ve got lots cleared with roads built that are already changing runoff patterns,” he said.

“The cost per home, for individuals, we’re talking some major money,” he said.

The ordinance changes would require control of small rainfall events (less than 1.95 inches) and would be applicable to construction in developments that don’t have sufficient stormwater controls in place, Ahern said.

“The process will allow the homeowner flexibility to select controls,” he said. “The homeowner can develop an individual plan approved by the county or he can follow the county worksheet” of stormwater best management practices.

Since meeting with stakeholders, including builders and homeowners associations, the county dropped provisions for mandatory storage and reuse of stormwater, Ahern said.

However, incentives will be included for water conservation, he said.

A cost analysis shows that the new regulation would add from zero to 2 percent to the price of building a home, he said.

“If you’re going to build a new home you would have to do the worksheet and most likely incur some cost… on average about $1.50 per square foot,” Ahern said.

Geoff Scott, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration office in Charleston, likened the total volume control to preventive health care.

“It saves money in the long run,” Scott said. “What you’re proposing here today is the equivalent on an ecosystem basis. Every dollar spent on prevention saves $1,000 in restoration.”

Then he pointed to the $69 billion price tag for restoration of the Chesapeake Bay as an example.

Jimmy McIntire of Bluffton, a long-time advocate of May River water quality, applauded the committee vote.

“Your leadership will help me and other interested citizens do some of the heavy lifting,” McIntire said. “I can assure you I’ll make sure this gets in front of the town of Bluffton. This is a major step forward.”